Preview: PFL 4 2024

Heavyweights

Marcelo Golm (10-5, 0-1 PFL) vs. Tyrell Fortune (13-2, 0-0 PFL): After dropping back-to-back losses to Daniel James, Golm is desperate for a win. He looked great both times against James, but let early success throw him off-track. He needs to settle down and prove he can make adjustments. Fortune is a big puncher and a fast starter. He comes into the PFL tournament as a late replacement and will need all the momentum he can muster. If Fortune pressures Golm early, he can turn the fight into a slugfest, which should benefit him. Golm has trouble keeping up the pace for long, which could result in another short night.

Heavyweights

Oleg Popov (17-1, 1-0 PFL) vs. Davion Franklin (6-2, 0-0 PFL): Popov hasn’t lost in over eight years, and he probably doesn’t plan to start anytime soon. His second-round TKO over Steve Mowry was a huge statement win in April, but Popov still needs to be careful. Mowry nearly caught him with a face crank in that fight and might’ve been too overconfident at times. Franklin could make him pay for that. The former Bellator contender hasn’t fought since injuring his leg at Bellator 300. When healthy, Franklin is a heavy-handed puncher who can put people away in the first. His best shot will come early, but a window against a fighter like Popov doesn’t stay open for long.

Heavyweights

Danilo Marques (15-5, 3-1 PFL) vs. Tim Johnson (17-9, 0-0 PFL): Neither fighter was originally in the PFL field this season, but that makes little difference. Marques and Johnson will each look to make the most of their opportunity. Marques is a tricky grappler with seven submissions on his ledger. He’s experienced with the PFL format and even competed in the 2023 playoffs. Johnson has faced several top heavyweights, including Valentin Moldavsky, Linton Vassell and Fedor Emelianenko. He fell short to all three. With that said, his power can keep him in any fight. This is a classic striker-versus-grappler matchup.

Women’s Flyweights

Taila Santos (20-3, 1-0 PFL) vs. Jena Bishop (7-0, 1-0 PFL): This could be the “Fight of the Night.” A former UFC title challenger, Santos emerged as a tournament favorite following her first-round submission over Ilare Joanne. She hurt Joanne several times on the feet before choking her out and showcased that she’s the biggest puncher among the flyweights. Bishop hasn’t fought MMA for long, but the former IBJJF world no-gi champion would love to test Santos’ skills on the ground. Bishop’s grappling makes her a dangerous dark horse in the draw, but Santos’ all-around game will likely be too much too handle.

Women’s Flyweights

Ilara Joanne (11-9, 0-1 PFL) vs. Shanna Young (9-7, 1-1 PFL): Young and Joanne both enter looking to bounce back from prior loses in the first round of the PFL season. Young couldn’t keep Kana Watanabe off her after missing weight, while Taila Santos overpowered Joanne. Young could get off more on the ground and edge on Joanne in a decision win.

Women’s Flyweights

Juliana Velasquez (12-3, 0-1 PFL) vs. Lisa Mauldin (6-4, 2-1 PFL): Only Liz Carmouche has beaten former Bellator world titlist Velasquez, and she has done so on three occasions. Velasquez can punch, wrestle and grapple with the best in the world and could still be a legitimate threat in the field with a win over Mauldin. The 34-year-old Mauldin is looking for the biggest win of her career after coming off a first-round stoppage loss against Dakota Ditcheva.

Women’s Flyweights

Sumiko Inaba (6-1, 0-0 PFL) vs. Saray Orozco (8-5, 0-0 PFL): Inaba hopes to bounce back from her first career loss to Orozco, one of the most challenging prospects coming out of Mexico. Inaba’s three knockouts could give her an edge on the feet, but Orozco has only been stopped once.

Women’s Flyweights

Melissa Balic (0-0, 0-0 PFL) vs. Kristina Katsikis (1-2, 0-0 PFL): Fresh off her TKO loss to Sumiko Inaba, Katskikis, a Bellator alum, hopes to get back on track against Balic. The debuting Balic was 3-1 as an amateur.

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Moldavsky vs. Vassell
Ditcheva vs. Hackett
Goltsov vs. Santos
Carmouche vs. Watanabe
The Prelims